164 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Wild cats formerly hunted in Britain. 



to Sir H. St. John Mildmay, sixteen of these 

 animals were killed by a pack of fox-hounds in 

 four days drawing the cover for foxes. They are 

 generally caught in traps, having the bait sprink- 

 led with valerian. 



Wild cats were formerly reckoned among the 

 British beasts of chase; as appears by a charter 

 of Richard II. to the abbot of Peterborough, 

 granting him permission to hunt the hare, fox, 

 and wild cat. The fur was also used in lining 

 of robes; but it does not seem to ha%e been ac- 

 counted of a luxurious kind ; as it was ordained 

 that no abbess or nun should use more costly ap- 

 parel than such as was made of lambs or cats 

 skins. 



THE DOMESTIC CAT. 



THE manners and dispositions of this quadru- 

 ped seem to be entirely changed by education ; 

 and although it does not exhibit the affectionate 

 attachment of the dog, it is not destitute of 

 either gentleness or gratitude. A remarkable in/- 

 stance of this is related in Mr. Pennant's Account 

 of London. Henry Wriothsly, earl of South- 

 ampton, the friend and companion of the earl of 

 Essex in his fatal insurrection, having been some 

 time confined in the Tower, was one day sur- 

 prised by a visit from his favourite cat ; which, is 

 said to have reached its master by descending 

 5 



